enraged lioness. "Ah, I should know how to defend my son. Let Biron fall
this night!"

"So be it!" unanimously exclaimed the three men.

"He has driven us to this extremity," said the princess. "Not enough
that he has banished our friends and faithful servants, surrounding us
with his miserable creatures and spies--not enough that he wounds and
humiliates us in every way--he would rend the young emperor from us, his
parents, his natural protectors. We are attacked in our holiest rights,
and must, therefore, defend ourselves."

"But what shall we do with this small Biron, when he is no longer the
great regent?" asked Ostermann.

"We will make him by a head smaller," said Munnich, laughing.

"No," vehemently exclaimed Leopoldowna--"no, no blood shall flow! Not
with blood shall our own and our son's rights be secured! Swear this
gentlemen, or I will never give my consent to the undertaking."

"I well knew that your highness would so decide," said Munnich, with a
smile, drawing a folded paper from his bosom. "In proof of which I hand
this paper to your highness."

"Ah, what is this?" said the duchess, unfolding the paper; "it is the
ground plan of a house!"

"Of the house we will have built for Biron in Siberia," said Munnich; "I
have drawn the plan myself."